Video Games: Young People

Keith Vaz: To ask the Attorney-General how many shops have been prosecuted for selling PEGI rated video games to underage customers since July 2012.

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify separately prosecutions for selling PEGi rated video games from other prosecutions under the Video Recordings Act 1984. Also, within the Court Proceedings Database, all businesses, public bodies and any other non person defendants are recorded under a single group "Other defendants". It is therefore not possible to identify separately prosecutions brought against shops or cinemas.

Conditions of Employment

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2013, Official Report, columns 512-3W, on conditions of employment, when the findings of his Department's investigation of the use of zero-hours contracts will be reported to the House.

Jo Swinson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr Umunna) on 6 September 2013, Official Report, column 535W.
	The summer review on zero hours was a fact finding exercise officials undertook to understand and explore zero hours contracts. As this was not a call for evidence nor a consultation, stakeholders did not submit written evidence.
	As a result of that review, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), announced on 16 September that a consultation on zero hours contract will take place this year. The details are being finalised and it will be published in November and run for 12 weeks.

Further Education: Student Numbers

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many English domiciled students were studying a (a) two, (b) three, (c) four year and (d) other undergraduate degree course at an English further education college in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many students were studying a (a) two, (b) three, (c) four year and (d) other undergraduate degree course at a UK further education college in each of the last 10 years.

David Willetts: Information on expected course lengths for students enrolled at English Further Education Colleges (FECs) is not available, however estimates of the number of English domiciled students studying full-time first degrees at Further Education Colleges (FEC) in England since 2006/07 have been provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and are included in the table.
	Information on Higher Education provision in Further Education elsewhere in the UK is available from the respective administrations.
	
		
			 English domiciled full-time undergraduate students(1) at further education colleges, English further education colleges, academic years 2006/07 to 2011/12 
			  Level of Undergraduate (UG) study 
			 Academic year First degree All undergraduates(2) 
			 2006/07 18,045 52,920 
			 2007/08 17,585 53,640 
			 2008/09 16,610 56,020 
			 2009/10 18,315 62,505 
			 2010/11 19,530 62,345 
			 2011/12 20,955 63,365 
			 (1) The number Full-Person Equivalent (FPE) students registered at Higher Education Institutions and taught at Further Education Colleges (franchised students), and students registered at Further Education Colleges. Students registered at FECs are only included if they are studying prescribed courses of Higher Education. (2) Includes Higher National Certificates (HNC), Higher National Diplomas (HND), Diplomas, First Degrees and other UG studies. Note: Figures have been rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: HEFCE estimates from the HESA student record and FE Data Service's Individualised Learner Record

Higher Education: Student Numbers

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many English-domiciled students were studying a (a) two, (b) three, (c) four year and (d) other undergraduate degree course at an English university in each of the last 10 years.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The number of English-domiciled full-time first degree enrolments in English universities by expected course length and academic year is shown in the following table.
	Information for the 2012-13 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2014.
	
		
			 English domiciled enrolments(1) on full-time first degree courses by expected length of course(2): English higher education institutions, academic year 2002-03 to 2011-12 
			 Academic year Two years(3) Three years(4) Four years(5) Other(6) Total 
			 2002-03 5,470 453,600 171,515 46,390 676,975 
			 2003-04 5,920 481,915 166,865 40,505 695,205 
			 2004-05 4,790 494,655 169,445 38,320 707,210 
			 2005-06 3,555 516,275 169,980 42,600 732,410 
			 2006-07 3,870 523,580 170,710 43,290 741,450 
			 2007-08 3,740 534,855 173,630 45,620 757,845 
			 2008-09 4,100 552,270 181,270 43,310 780,950 
			 2009-10 3,845 585,120 185,305 43,980 818,250 
			 2010-11 3,180 600,800 191,700 45,630 841,310 
			 2011-12 3,255 632,020 202,560 47,740 885,575 
			 (1) Enrolments cover total students in all years of study. (2) Calculated as the time between expected end date and commencement date of instance, further details of how this is defined provided at the link: http://www.hesa.ac.uk/component/option,com_studrec/task,show_file/Itemid,233/mnl,11051/href,a%5E_%5ESPLENGTH.html/ (3) Course with expected length greater than one year but less than or equal to two years. (4) Course with expected length greater than two years but less than or equal to three years. (5) Course with expected length greater than three years but less than or equal to four years (6) Includes short courses with expected length of one year or less, longer courses of over four years and courses of unknown length. Note: Figures are derived using the HESA standard registration population.

Conditions of Employment

Katy Clark: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of workers in the rail industry who are employed on zero hours contracts;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of workers in the shipping industry who are employed on zero hours contracts.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated October 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking:
	(i) What recent estimate has been made of the number of workers in the rail industry who are employed on zero hours contracts. (171220); and
	(ii) What recent estimate has been made of the number of workers in the shipping industry who are employed on zero hours contracts. (171223)
	The requested information is not available. Information regarding people working on zero hours contracts is available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, full estimates of the total number of people in employment on such contracts are not available from this source. This is, in part, due to reporting error as respondents may fail to identify their type of employment contract correctly. This prevents reliable estimates being produced for individual industry sectors.

Bricks

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of UK-produced bricks to housing construction sites; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that there is no shortage of supply from British brick manufacturers.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Government is aware of industry reports assessing the current situation regarding the supply of UK-produced bricks to housing construction sites. The Construction Leadership Council will keep the position under review, but UK bricks must be price-competitive.

Parking

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department gives local authorities on the provision of parking for (a) district nurses, (b) midwives and (c) other visiting health professionals.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has issued no specific policy or guidance on the provision of parking for district nurses, midwives and other visiting health professionals.
	The Government recognises the importance of good affordable parking and is committed to putting an end to excessive parking charges and unfair parking fines which push up the cost of living and local economy. We have already taken action to increase the number of parking spaces and withdrawn guidance that encourages councils to set parking fees to discourage the use of cars.
	Councils have a key role in promoting local economic growth and local jobs and we are currently looking at what more can be done to reform parking rules to help with the cost of living and support local shops.
	More information can be found in my Department's press notice of 27 September 2013 at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-parking-reform-proposals-to-support-local-shops-and-high-streets

Education Maintenance Allowance

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the answer of 18 March 2013, Official Report, columns 444-5W on educational maintenance allowance, if he will publish the interim report referred to in that answer.

Elizabeth Truss: The interim report, which presents findings of the first year of the independent evaluation of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, was published on 16 May(1).
	(1) Available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-16-to-19-bursary-fund-year-1-report

Energy: Weather

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make an assessment of the size of the potential margin between generating capacity and electricity demand if there is a blocking high pressure weather system with little wind and freezing temperatures in the period December 2013 to January 2014.

Michael Fallon: National Grid in their Winter Outlook 2013-14 report have stated:
	“Our peak weather corrected electricity demand forecast for this winter is 54.8 GW; this is our demand forecast should the weather be the same as long term average weather conditions. In any winter, however, there are milder spells and colder spells which drive fluctuations in demand around the weather corrected demand forecast. We forecast the peak Average Cold Spell (ACS) electricity demand to be 56.3 GW this winter.”
	“For this winter, taking the latest data into account, our central forecast of electricity margin against peak (ACS) demand is 5%, broadly in line with the level published in Ofgem's Capacity Adequacy analysis in June. If, however, we have average weather throughout the winter, our central forecast of margin is 8%.”

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what weight his Department gave to the National Grid's Call for Evidence 2012 and his Department's Electricity Generation Costs Report 2013 in setting the draft offshore wind strike price; and if he will publish in full his Department's analysis of factors underlying that decision.

Michael Fallon: As detailed in ‘Annex B: Strike Price methodology’(1) of the ‘Consultation on the draft Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan’ there are a range of factors to consider in setting a strike price. These include:
	technology specific factors such as capital and operating costs, financing costs and any build constraints;
	market conditions such as wholesale prices and the discount which generators face when signing a power purchase agreement (PPA); and
	policy considerations such as the specific contract design, choices about technology mix and meeting the ambition for renewable electricity.
	The methodology for setting strike prices is designed to provide an equivalent level of support to that received under the renewables obligation for the period when developers can choose between the renewable obligation and contracts for difference. After this period, strike prices are set to reflect both expectations of falling technology costs over time and the financial constraints imposed by the levy control framework.
	The data used for technology specific factors the draft Delivery Plan Consultation including capital and operating costs and financing costs is detailed in Annex 3 of DECC's electricity generation costs 2013(2) report. Page 7-9 of this report details the data used for all technologies. For offshore wind this draws from the Government response to the banding review (GRBR). When modelling future cost reductions for offshore wind evidence from the Crown Estate Study (the Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Pathways Study) and the Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force report was also included. This is explained in more detail in annex 2 of DECC's electricity generation costs 2013.
	DECC is currently considering responses and evidence received as part of the draft delivery plan consultation and this evidence may be used to inform final decisions on strike prices.
	(1)( )Note:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223652/emr_consultation_annex_b.pdf
	(2)Note:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223940/DECC_Electricity_Generation_Costs_for_publication_-_24_07_13.pdf

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the evidential basis was for his Department's setting of the draft strike prices; and if he will publish in full the modelling his Department used for setting those prices.

Michael Fallon: The evidence base included several detailed reports on technology costs by specialist consultancies, evidence submitted by industry on their costs from several calls for evidence, and modelling by National Grid using an investment and dispatch model of the GB electricity system.
	The Government has also appointed an independent Panel of Technical Experts which provides independent scrutiny of National Grid's analysis. All the evidence and the modelling, including the panel's report on the draft delivery plan, is published on the Government website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-draft-electricity-market-reform-delivery

British Council

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the arrangements governing the British Council's ability to compete for private-sector education contracts to ensure that British private-sector education providers abroad are able to compete on a level playing field.

Hugo Swire: I announced on 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 81Ws, that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is conducting a Triennial Review of the British Council. The outcome of the Review is due to be published in early 2014.
	Competition questions relating to British Council income generating activity form part of the Review. The Review Team has spoken to a wide range of interested parties in the UK and overseas, including other British education providers. A month long online public consultation received several hundred responses, some from private sector companies.

Colombia

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with President Santos of Colombia on the potential effect of a free trade agreement between Colombia and the EU on poverty and inequality levels in that country.

Hugo Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not discussed with President Santos the potential effect of a Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the EU on poverty and inequality levels in that country. However, we firmly believe that trade agreements are important for economic growth, prosperity and political stability in developing countries, and contribute significantly to overall development, creating an environment where human rights are more likely to be respected.

Morocco

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Morocco on behalf of British investors in the Paradise Golf and Beach Resort project near Asilah.

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of this case. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to intervene directly or provide legal advice in private matters such as these. We have corresponded directly with some of the individuals involved in response to their letters. The ambassador in Morocco has raised this issue with senior members of the Moroccan Government, encouraging them to do all they can to find a satisfactory resolution. We will continue to raise this with the Moroccan Government at appropriate opportunities.

Sri Lanka

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of religious freedom in Sri Lanka; and what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan government regarding protection for religious minorities in that country.

Hugo Swire: Our concerns about religious freedom in Sri Lanka surrounding religious freedom in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2012 and it's subsequent quarterly updates.
	Attacks on minority religious sites and continued campaigns against Christians and Muslim remain a serious concern.
	Our high commissioner to Colombo has raised these matters with members of the Government of Sri Lanka. We have urged the Sri Lankan Government to take early action to promote peaceful co-existence between all communities, noting the importance of ensuring any acts of violence, intimidation or threats are thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice and we shall raise these issues at the forthcoming CHOGM.
	The European Union Delegation, in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Sri Lanka, also issued a statement on 13 August calling for
	"the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of worship to be protected by the Sri Lankan government, and for the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure justice through speedy, impartial trials and enable all Sri Lankans to exercise their human rights freely."

Sri Lanka

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka following her visit to Sri Lanka in August 2013; and with which other Commonwealth governments he has discussed that report.

Hugo Swire: We welcomed the oral update of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Navi Pillay, to the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council following her visit to Sri Lanka in August, and share many of her concerns. We look forward with interest to the submission of the full written report during the March 2014 session of the UN Human Rights Council.
	We regularly raise the issues broached by Navi Pillay with other Commonwealth states.

Cancer: Drugs

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the Cancer Drugs Fund on patients in (a) the Eastern Region and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: Information on patients funded through the Cancer Drugs Fund is not collected by region.
	Information on the number of patients who have had cancer drugs funded by East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) for the period October 2010 to end March 2013 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 East of England SHA 
			  Number 
			 Number of patients funded in 2010-11 246 
			 Number of patients funded in 2011-12 1,486 
			 Number of patients funded in 2012-13 1,683 
			 Total number of patients funded since October 2010(1) 3,415 
			 (1) Some individual patients may be double-counted where a patient has received more than one drug treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund. Source: Information provided to the Department by SHAs. 
		
	
	Information on the number of patients in England who have had treatment funded to end March 2013 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 England 
			  Number 
			 Number of patients funded in 2010-11 2,780 
			 Number of patients funded in 2011-12 11,798 
			 Number of patients funded in 2012-13 15,456 
			 Total number of patients funded since October 2010(1) 30,034 
			 (1) Some individual patients may be double-counted where a patient has received more than one drug treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund. Source: Information provided to the Department by SHAs. 
		
	
	NHS England took responsibility for the fund from April 2013 and is collecting data on the use of the fund from four regional teams. We are advised that between 1 April and end of June 2013, 1,253 patients in the Midlands and East area were funded.

Health Visitors

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will commission an investigation into local variations in the maximum number of cases to be handled by health visitors so as to ensure good practice;
	(2)  if he will commission a review of local guidelines on the appropriate caseload for health visitors to gain insight into which local authorities are overloaded.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not plan to commission an investigation into local variations in the maximum number of cases handled by health visitors, nor does it plan to review local guidelines on the appropriate caseload for health visitors.
	The Government's commitment to grow the health visitor work force by an additional 4,200 full-time equivalents by April 2015 will ensure the availability of more staff, thereby allowing local services further flexibility in how they respond to demand. Both the Department and NHS England closely monitor work force growth to ensure the numbers of health visitors are increasing in line with agreed trajectories.
	As part of the public health work force, health visiting services should be locally deployed, so as to meet the needs of the local population. This means that ratio of health visitors to the local population will depend on the locality, its health and social needs, its level of deprivation and other variables.
	Current arrangements allow local service providing organisations to determine the number of cases handled in the context of the needs of families. This approach is best suited to facilitating safe and efficient services, because its inherent flexibility allows local organisations to allocate higher, caseloads to health visitors of families with relatively low levels of need, whilst allowing lower case load allocation to health visitors of families with more intensive (higher) levels of need.

Council Tax: Non-payment

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were (a) fined and (b) jailed for non-payment of council tax in each of the last five years.

Shailesh Vara: Where a person fails to pay the council tax after it has been demanded, the local authority may apply to the magistrates court for a liability order. Liability orders granted are for the amount owed plus reasonable costs. If they are still not paid the local authority can apply for a warrant committing an individual to prison. You cannot be fined for non-payment of council tax. Magistrates courts have been using Libra, the centralised case management system since early 2009 so data are only available from 2009-10 and data for the four years 2009-10 to 2012-13 are presented in the following table:
	
		
			 Individuals imprisoned for non-payment of council tax 2009-10 to 2012-13 
			  Number 
			 2009-10 121 
			 2010-11 112 
			 2011-12 117 
			 2012-13 98 
		
	
	The fall in volumes from 2011-12 to 2012-13 is consistent with the fall in overall civil proceedings in magistrates courts over the same period.
	Notes:
	1. The date is based on case completion date.
	2. The report looks only at ‘Complaint for Council Tax Committal Application' and 'Complaint for Council Tax Liability’.
	3. The Total Imprisoned includes Committal to prison, Detention until court rises, Imprisonment and Imprisonment in default.
	4. After the warrant is issued the defendant can pay the warrant in full or part payment in lieu of custody.

Courts: Young People

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions the courts have lifted section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to enable reporting on (a) criminal proceedings and (b) proceedings relating to anti social behaviour orders in which children or young persons under the age of 18 years are concerned in the last year.

Shailesh Vara: Information is not held centrally on how many occasions the courts have lifted reporting restrictions in criminal proceedings or imposed reporting restrictions in respect of civil proceedings relating to antisocial behaviour orders.
	In criminal proceedings involving children courts can lift reporting restrictions in some circumstances where this would be in the interests of justice, it would help to catch a serious offender, or it is a serious crime. Striking a balance between the rights of the public and the rights of a young defendant is decided on a case by case basis by the judiciary.
	In respect of civil proceedings where an anti-social behaviour order is contemplated, the courts may impose reporting restrictions. Making the public aware of the perpetrator and the terms of the order can be an important part of the process in tackling antisocial behaviour. But courts must balance this against the consideration of the impact on the young person and whether it is likely to affect a young person's behaviour, with each case decided on its own facts.

Employment: Arbitration

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many unpaid employment tribunal awards and ACAS settlements were passed to High Court enforcement officers in the financial year 2012-13; and of these unpaid awards and settlements (a) how many were fully enforced, (b) how many were enforced with payments in instalments, (c) how many have been partially enforced, (d) how many are ongoing and (e) how many were unenforceable; and of the unpaid awards and settlements which were unenforceable for 2012-13, what the reasons were for non enforcement.

Shailesh Vara: Data on the enforcement of Employment Tribunal Fast Track awards for the first half of the 2012-13 financial year (April 2012 to September 2012) was provided to you in a letter from my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant), the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Minister for the Courts and Legal Aid dated 8 May 2013. Unfortunately the exercise to collect data for the second six months of the financial year 2012-13 (October 2012 to March 2013) has taken longer than expected and is now planned to be available in December 2013. I will provide you with this data as soon as it is supplied.

Judiciary

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  for what reasons the Senior President of the Tribunals will no longer prepare an annual report on the performance of decision making in his Department;
	(2)  what representations he has received on removing the duty of the Senior President of Tribunals to report on the standards of decision-making by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Shailesh Vara: The duty is to be repealed because of the high cost of producing the report and because of the development of alternative methods for providing feedback to the Department for Work and Pensions which make the report unnecessary. For example, the introduction of summary reasons for decisions in employment support allowance cases means judges explain why a decision has been overturned at appeal, and provides the Department for Work and Pensions with an effective feedback mechanism. I am not aware of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), having received representations on the removal of the duty.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made in implementing section 139 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Shailesh Vara: The Government is committed to implementing section 139 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which reforms the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The essential prerequisite for the commencement of the reforms is to put in place a system for producing basic disclosure certificates, which show unspent convictions, which reflects the new rehabilitation periods for England and Wales. Until we do that there would be no way for an individual to obtain an official statement of their unspent convictions under the new rules.
	Currently, basic disclosures reflecting the existing rehabilitation periods are only available from Disclosure Scotland and this service is provided to residents of England and Wales as well as Scotland. However, the reforms to the 1974 Act only revise rehabilitation periods for England and Wales, leaving the position in Scotland unchanged under its legislation. This complicates matters and creates two different rehabilitation regimes within the UK, which means that there are significant business and technical issues to work through.
	The Government is considering the best option for implementing these important changes with Disclosure Scotland and the Disclosure and Barring Service and aim to have the reforms in place at the earliest possible point.

Public Consultation: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consultations concerning the make-up of the Court Service Estate in North Wales have taken place in ten last three years.

Shailesh Vara: In June 2010 Ministers announced a consultation on the future provision of courts services in England and Wales. The consultation included proposals on the future of courts in North Wales: Llangefni magistrates court, Denbigh magistrates court, Pwhelli magistrates court, Flint magistrates court, Rhyl county court and Llangefni county court.
	The consultation ran for 12 weeks and closed in September 2010. The response to the consultation was published in December 2010. This set out that Llangefni magistrates court, Denbigh magistrates court, Pwhelli magistrates court, Flint magistrates court and Rhyl county court were to close under the 'Court Estate Reform Programme'. The decision was taken that Llangefni county court would remain open.

Public Consultation: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consultations concerning the delivery of civil justice in North Wales have taken place in the last three years.

Shailesh Vara: In January 2012 a consultation on the Modernisation of Face to Face Services in the Civil and Family Courts in Wales was published. The consultation included proposals on implementing permanent alterations to the opening times of counter services in the county courts in Wales. In North Wales this included the county courts at Caernarfon, Llangefni, Mold, Rhyl, Wrexham and Welshpool.
	The response to the consultation was published in July 2012. This set out that county court counters (as well as family proceedings counters where they are co located within county courts) will be open to the public between 10 am and 2 pm on every day that the courthouse is open. Following this and other consultations, pilots were run, throughout England and Wales, with revised arrangement for the provision of face to face services. These pilots were made permanent from 1 October 2013.
	A consultation on proposed changes to public counter opening times at Llangefni county court was published in January 2013. The response to this consultation was published in April 2013 and set out that the public counter would open from 10 am to 2 pm to coincide with the district judge's sitting days and for the remainder of the week services will be delivered from Caernarfon county court. This change was implemented in June 2013.

Witnesses: Children

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many registered intermediaries were appointed for children in cases involving (a) sexual offences and (b) other offences in the last three years for which data are available at (i) pre-police interview, (ii) pre-trial and (iii) trial broken down by (A) age, (B) geography and (C) impairment group.

Damian Green: During the period of 1 August 2009 to 8 October 2013 there have been a total of 2,435 appointments of a registered intermediary for children (0-17 years). Of that number, 1722 were in cases involving sexual offences and 713 were in cases involving all other types of offences.
	
		
			 Stage of criminal case (a) Sexual offences (b) All other offences 
			 Pre-police interview and pre-trial 1,403 547 
			 Trial 319 166 
			 Total 1,722 713 
		
	
	Data is not collated separately for the pre-police interview and pre-trial stages of a criminal case.
	The following tables provide a breakdown of that information by (A) age, (B) geography and (C) impairment group.
	
		
			 (A) Age (a) Sexual offences (b) All other offences 
			 0-4 years 369 119 
			 5-11 years 617 296 
			 12-17 years 736 298 
			 Total 1,722 713 
		
	
	
		
			 (B) Geography (a) Sexual offences (b) All other offences 
			 Avon and Somerset 45 14 
			 Bedfordshire 28 19 
			 Cambridgeshire 52 22 
			 Cheshire 11 10 
			 Cleveland 5 2 
			 Cumbria 29 22 
			 Derbyshire 63 26 
			 Devon and Cornwall 20 2 
			 Dorset 6 3 
			 Durham 25 8 
		
	
	
		
			 Dyfed-Powys 9 9 
			 Essex 29 10 
			 Gloucestershire 5 1 
			 Greater Manchester 53 14 
			 Gwent 2 1 
			 Hampshire 155 59 
			 Hertfordshire 10 5 
			 Humberside 64 29 
			 Isle of Man 1 0 
			 Kent 34 16 
			 Lancashire 18 8 
			 Leicestershire 30 8 
			 Lincolnshire 23 2 
			 London 254 135 
			 Merseyside 60 20 
			 Norfolk 11 18 
			 North Wales 3 2 
			 North Yorkshire 11 2 
			 Northamptonshire 11 1 
			 Northumbria 20 4 
			 Nottinghamshire 11 1 
			 Other 2 0 
			 South Wales 12 2 
			 South Yorkshire 19 4 
			 Staffordshire 31 7 
			 Suffolk 11 13 
			 Surrey 30 14 
			 Sussex 71 21 
			 Thames Valley 192 70 
			 Warwickshire 3 1 
			 West Mercia 25 11 
			 West Midlands 102 62 
			 West Yorkshire 100 30 
			 Wiltshire 26 5 
			 Total 1,722 713 
		
	
	
		
			 (C) Impairment group (a) Sexual offences (b) All other offences 
			 None stated 702 242 
			 Mental health only 23 5 
			 Learning disabilities only 889 413 
			 Physical disabilities only 20 12 
			 Mental health and learning disabilities 50 20 
			 Mental health and physical disabilities 1 0 
			 Learning disabilities and physical disabilities 37 20 
			 Mental health, learning disabilities and physical disabilities 0 1 
			 Total 1,722 713

Energy: Prices

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland on capping energy bills in that country; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael), or I have had no recent discussions with the First Minister on capping energy bills in Scotland.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport and Ministers in the Scottish Government on the extension of high speed rail to Scotland.

David Mundell: Scotland Office Ministers and officials are in frequent contact with colleagues in DFT on the plans for HS2 and the benefits it will bring to Scotland.
	DFT and the Scotland Office are working closely with Transport Scotland on this and Scottish Government Ministers are closely engaged in this process.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the take-up of the Help to Buy scheme on new and first time homebuyers in (a) the eastern region and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme is available throughout the UK. The scheme will support potential borrowers who can afford the repayments on a high LTV mortgage, but are unable to save up for the large deposits currently required in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The Government has made £12 billion of guarantees available, which is sufficient to support up to £130 billion of high loan-to-value mortgages across the UK.

Executives: Females

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent discussions she had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the number of women employed at a senior boardroom level by companies based in Scotland.

Jo Swinson: I have had no recent discussions on this issue with Ministers in the Scottish Government regarding companies specifically located in Scotland.
	The Government has put in place policies to support women to advance in the workplace and we also believe that this agenda should be business led. We have been working closely with businesses and key stakeholders throughout the UK to help drive forward Lord Davies' recommendations from his 2011 report with the aim of meeting his target of 25% women on boards by 2015 and to ensure that businesses recognise the business and economic benefits which comes with having a more diverse board.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to how many households the benefit cap has been applied (a) in each local authority area and (b) in total.

Esther McVey: Official statistics on how many households in each local authority have had the benefit cap applied are not currently available.
	Official Statistics on how many households have had the benefit cap applied nationally have been published and can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-to-august-2013

Jobseeker's Allowance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) individuals, (b) pregnant women and (c) individuals with dependants have received jobseeker's allowance sanctions since October 2012.

Esther McVey: Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced in October 2012, have not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. However it is not intended that these statistics will include information on how many pregnant women and individuals with dependants have received jobseeker's allowance sanctions. This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received multiple jobseeker's allowance sanctions in each local authority area since October 2012.

Esther McVey: Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced in October 2012, have not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for Official Statistics.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance had a sanction overturned on appeal in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, (e) 2012 and (f) January to September 2013.

Esther McVey: The information requested, up to and including 21 October 2012, can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants who had the original decision to apply a sanction overturned upon appeal by year of decision, Great Britain: 1 January 2008-21 October 2012 
			 Year of decision Total 
			 2008 1,190 
			 2009 1,010 
			 2010 2,130 
			 2011 4,000 
			 2012 2,870 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and show the number of varied, fixed length and entitlement decision referrals where the original decision was found against the claimant but subsequently overturned upon appeal. Figures will include individuals who have a sanction overturned in more than one year eg if an individual has had a sanction overturned in 2008 and also in 2012 then they will appear twice. 2. Year of decision: The year in which the decision to overturn the sanction was made. The year 2012 only includes data up to and including 21 October, which this is the latest data available. 3. Varied length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the adjudication officer who makes the decision. 4. Fixed length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a jobseeker's direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the adjudication officer's decision on a sanction question. 5. Entitlement decisions: These are questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database. 
		
	
	The information requested after 21 October 2012 is not currently available.
	Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced on 22 October 2012, have not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance who were subject to a sanction were classified as belonging to an ethnic minority in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, (e) 2012 and (f) January to September 2013.

Esther McVey: The available information can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied by ethnic group and year of decision: 1 January 2008-21 October 2012 
			  Year of decision 
			 Ethnic group 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 White 206,240 273,460 373,280 359,450 350,830 
			 Mixed 6,380 8,400 12,530 12,540 12,050 
			 Asian or Asian British 17,220 20,860 31,040 32,300 32,410 
			 Black or Black British 22,010 26,030 37,670 38,320 37,700 
			 Chinese or Other Ethnic Group 5,380 5,920 9,180 10,060 11,290 
		
	
	
		
			 Prefer not to say 12,530 14,110 19,250 19,840 20,790 
			 Unknown 6,830 7,810 10,930 10,420 9,710 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and will includes individuals who have a sanction applied in more than one year eg if an individual has had a sanction applied in 2008 and also in 2012 then they will appear twice. 2. Sanctions applied: The number of sanctions applied is the number of Varied, fixed length and entitlement decision referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. 3. Year of decision: The year in which the decision to apply a sanction was made. 2012 is from 1 January to 21 October (the last date of the old sanctions regime) which is the latest data available. 4. Varied length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the adjudication officer who makes the decision. 5. Fixed length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a jobseeker's direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the adjudication officer's decision on a sanction question. 6. Entitlement decisions: These are questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved 7. Ethnicity group of claimant (aggregated): Ethnic group is self-assessed and recorded on the DWP Labour Market System (LMS). Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database. 
		
	
	Information on the number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied after 21 October 2012 is not currently available. Statistics on the new JSA sanctions regime, introduced on 22 October 2012, have not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance who were subject to a sanction on the advice of a Work Programme provider were classified as belonging to an ethnic minority in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, (e) 2012 and (f) January to September 2013.

Esther McVey: The available information can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied for failing to participate in the Work programme by ethnic group and year of decision: 1 June 2011 to 21 October 2012 
			  Year of decision 
			 Ethnic group 2011 2012 
			 White 11,970 65,050 
			 Mixed 340 1,980 
			 Asian or Asian British 540 3,430 
			 Black or Black British 1,110 6,050 
			 Chinese or other ethnic group 180 1,100 
			 Prefer not to say 550 3,130 
			 Unknown 350 1,750 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and will include individuals who have a sanction applied in more than one year, e.g. if an individual has had a sanction applied in 2011 and also in 2012 then they will appear twice. 2. Sanctions applied: The number of sanctions applied is the number of fixed length sanction referrals for failing to participate in the Work programme where the decision was found against the claimant. 3. Year of decision: The year in which the decision to apply a sanction was made. 2011 is from 1 June (date the Work programme was introduced) to 31 December. 2012 is from 1 January to the 21 October (the last date of the old sanctions regime) which are the latest data available. 4. Fixed length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a Jobseeker's Direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the Adjudication Officer's decision on a sanction question. 5. Ethnicity Group of claimant (aggregated): Ethnic group is self-assessed and recorded on the DWP Labour Market System (LMS). Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database 
		
	
	Information on the number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied for failing to participate in the Work programme after 21 October 2012 is not currently available. Statistics on the new JSA sanctions regime, introduced on 22 October 2012, have not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for Official Statistics.
	Information on how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance (JSA) who were subject to a sanction on the advice of a Work programme provider for reasons other than failing to participate are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against jobseeker's allowance sanctions have been (a) made and (b) successful since October 2012; and what the average time was from the date of an appeal to the date when a decision was made.

Esther McVey: Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced in October 2012, have not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for Official Statistics. However is not intended that these statistics will include information on what the average time was from the date of an appeal to the date when a decision was made. This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information on fraud will be available to local authorities following the implementation of the Single Fraud Investigation Service.

Esther McVey: The Department publishes estimates of fraud and error in the benefits system on a half yearly basis. Preliminary estimates for 2012-13 were published on 9 May 2013.
	The Single Fraud Investigation Service is working with Local Government to agree protocols on how the service will work and report in the future.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what benefit provision is made for unemployed people who are waiting for disability assessments from Atos Healthcare; and what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for Atos assessments.

Michael Penning: Claimants who have made a claim for Employment and support allowance (ESA) are paid the assessment phase rate of ESA pending completion of a work capability assessment. This is paid at the same rate as Jobseekers allowance.
	We are committed to ensuring the work capability assessment is as fair and as accurate as possible in determining who is fit for work and who needs support because they cannot work.
	A written ministerial statement issued on 22 July outlined that in the drive to continually improve the work capability assessment process and bring down waiting times for claimants, DWP had decided to seek additional capacity to deliver work capability assessments from summer 2014. This additional capacity will be procured on a regional basis, in line with the overall contracting strategy for the Department. This commercial exercise is now under way.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the interaction of universal credit and the income tax personal allowance.

Esther McVey: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), has regular meetings with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Universal credit has been designed to dovetail with the tax system to ensure all claimants are better off as their earnings rise.